Hiring clues employers look for

When you are at an interview for a position, the employer is looking for two items:

Your employability

Your ability to fit into the job

The employer will be looking for hiring clues which help them know if you are worth the trouble of hiring. These clues will let them know if you are being honest with the information you have provided on the resume or application. How does an employer gather these clues? There are two ways employers check your employability:

Determination from the interview - this is done through a series of questions, tests and observations

Information from references and other information - this is gathered either before or after the interview to see if you can really fit into the job.

Clues to Your Employability

Some of the clues which employers will look for which will fit you into the job are the following:

Do you have the required skills or training for the job

Do you have enough experience in certain areas to perform the job

Do you have a record of showing up, on time, for work

Do you have a record of leaving early or missing work

Are you willing and able to get along with others, both customers and co-workers

Are you willing and able to follow directions

Are you willing and able to listen to instructions and learn how to get things done

Can you be trusted with responsibility

Can you work without constant supervision

Do you move from job to job in short periods of time

Most of the questions employers ask will be answered without your saying a word. Your past history, both personal and your employability, will speak loudly. If there are areas which no longer reflect your fitting into a job, these must be brought up during the interview as this is the only opportunity you will have to clarify any issues which employers may discover.

Providing Good Clues

There are many ways in which you can prove you are a good fit for the job to any potential employer. Many of these will involve establishing a track record of behavior, while others simply involve corrective measures.

Applying for positions where you know you are a good fit into the job

Staying with an employer for at least 18 months to establish a track record of consistent employment

Maintaining or establishing positive goals which further your employability

Establishing corrective actions to offset any negative marks in your personal or employment history

Continuing further education to acquire new or improved skills

Understanding that your employment is one of the most important elements of your life

If you are able to balance out any negative clues with positive actions this will help to improve the chances of fitting into the job you are trying to get. While not every part of your background will be completely balanced out, if the overall effect of your actions shows that you have been steadily attempting improvements, this will also be a benefit to your employability.